Wealth Think

Marketing expert Marie Swift says the end of the year is a perfect time to review everything in an advisor’s marketing toolkit. This week, she talks about the importance and value of the power bio and the core issues article.

Marketing expert Marie Swift says its time for bloggers, tweeps, LinkedIn and Facebook addicts to take a timeout and realize that while building a positive online presence is important, it’s also crucial for financial advisors to think about their overall business image.

Typically, it takes a storm to disengage the autopilot and force advisors into making positive changes in their life. But Steve Sanduski, the Prosperous Advisor, says it’s important for financial advisors to be proactive about improving their lives and their practice before it’s too late.

Marketing expert Marie Swift says the “Marketing Ideas, Rapid Fire” session at the recent Garrett Planning Network annual retreat yielded a bunch of winning marketing ideas for financial advisors. Which ones can you or your firm implement right now?

What is there to do on LinkedIn everyday? As it turns out, there are several powerful free tools that can help advisors market their practices as well as help them search effectively for new clients. Financial Planning senior editor Donna Mitchell says that planners who aren’t taking advantage of these functions (remember: they’re free) probably should be.

Getting started in social media is a lot like getting started in investing. It pays to have a plan. And, much like investment planning, TJ Gilsenan, the Web Savvy Advisor, says social media planning involves assessing where you are now, determining where you want to go and establishing a plan to get there.

Al Davis, the long-time principal owner and general manager of the Oakland Raiders, died last week at age 82. As legacy expert attorneys Andy and Danielle Mayoras point out, estate taxes are huge concern for NFL owners and it appears that Davis, unlike other professional sports owners, made the necessary arrangements to keep the franchise under his heirs’ control.

Author and consultant Keith Weber doesn’t normally attend protests, but when the “Occupy Wall Street” movement showed up in Denver, he decided to go take a look. What he found was a group of diverse individuals who share a common set of values that are highly reminiscent of those expressed by the Socially Responsible Investing industry.

Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. If you’re like most financial advisors, you are ultra-busy serving your clients and generating new business. But have you handled the marketing fundamentals? Columnist and marketing expert Marie Swift delves into two marketing fundamentals that should not be ignored: the power bio and the prospect profile. Ignore them and suffer the consequences.

Soon after the tragic news of Steve Jobs' death broke, people began wondering what would become of the Apple co-founder and innovator extraordinaire's fortune. Forbes recently estimated Jobs’ wealth at $7 billion. According to legacy expert attorneys Andy and Danielle Mayoras, it appears Jobs had his estate planning act together.